FALSE: A TikTok post with over 100,000 likes falsely claims to show the ‘results’ of the recent papal conclave, claiming Cardinal Prevost having 91 votes, with the rest split between Cardinals Tagle and Sarah.
FACT: Conclave results are never released. Cardinals take an oath of secrecy, and all ballots are burned after each vote.
The Vatican employs rigorous counter surveillance protocols before the conclave to prevent external interference, including bug detection and signal-blocking measures.
This secrecy ensures that no outside pressure can influence the sacred electoral process.
The false post has sparked harmful speculation, with some commenters accusing the Church of rigging the vote or showing racial bias.
These unfounded claims risk inciting division among Catholics and undermining trust in the institution.
Misinformation targeting the Vatican often spreads quickly due to its global relevance. Faithfuls are urged to rely only on official Vatican communications and trusted news sources for credible updates.
